Abstract
The ACTwatch Outlet Survey, one of the ACTwatch project components, involves quantitative research at the outlet level in ACTwatch countries (Benin, Cambodia, the Democratic Republic of Congo [DRC], Madagascar, Nigeria, Uganda and Zambia). Other elements of ACTwatch include Household Surveys led by Population Services International (PSI) and Supply Chain Research led by the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine (LSHTM). This report presents the results of a cross‐sectional survey of outlets conducted in Benin in from the 8th to the 30th of April 2011.
The objective of the outlet survey is to monitor levels and trends in the availability, price and volumes of antimalarials, and providers’ perceptions and knowledge of antimalarial medicines at different outlets. Price and availability data on diagnostic testing services is also collected.
A nationally representative sample of all outlets with the potential to sell or provide antimalarials to a consumer was taken through a census approach in 19 clusters across Benin; clusters being defined as Arrondissements. Sampling was conducted using a one‐stage probability proportion to size (PPS) cluster design, with the measure of size being the relative cluster population. Oversampling of public health facilities and registered pharmacies was conducted to ensure adequate representation of these outlet types in the survey.
The inclusion criteria for this study were outlets that stocked an antimalarial at the time of survey or had stocked antimalarials in the previous three months. An outlet is defined as any point of sale or provision of commodities for individuals. Outlets included in the survey are as follows: 1) public health facilities (national/referral/zone hospitals, health centres, village health units, dispensaries and maternities); 2) private‐not‐for‐profit health facilities (mission and non‐governmental organisation [NGO] health facilities); 3) private‐for‐profit health facilities (private clinics and hospitals); 4) registered pharmacies; 5) general retailers (stores, boutiques, and market stalls); 7) itinerant drug vendors (hawkers); and 8) community health workers (CHW). Refer to the appendices for definitions and numbers of each type of outlet included in the analysis.
Three questionnaire modules were administered to participating outlets: 1) a screening module, 2) an audit module (antimalarial audit sheets and RDT audit sheets), and 3) a provider module. For all outlets, trained interviewers administered the screening module to collect information on the outlet type and location, including the outlet’s longitude and latitude, and information on availability of antimalarials. Among those outlets that stocked antimalarials at the time of survey, the audit module was administered. For each antimalarial, information was recorded on the brand and generic names, strength, expiry, amount sold in the last week and price to the consumer. Among outlets that stocked antimalarials at the time of interview or in the past three months, the interviewer collected information on provider demographics, knowledge, perceptions, and medicine storage conditions using the provider module. Where these outlets had RDTs available, information on RDT brand, manufacturer, price and number of tests sold in the last week was collection using the rapid diagnostic test audit module.
